Kitchen appliances & power generator for my cafe

Lydiah

Juja, Kenya

100% repaid

Entrepreneur

Name

Lydiah

Member since

September 2014

On-time repayments

322 installments  •  37%

About Me

I am a Kenyan citizen born in Meru County, in a big family of thirteen children, being the second last in the family. I went to primary school and secondary school in Meru County and I completed my O level in 1999.

I later went to Meru Technical after one year to pursue an accounting course, since my passion was to become a banker or finance manager of a big company in the future. I started at ATC level and I proceeded to do CPA after passing the ATC level. I joined Strathmore University in Nairobi for CPA, whereupon my father decided that I should stay in Nairobi since my mother had passed on so that my studies cannot be interrupted by the loss of my mother.

I was able to do the CPA up to part III section V but, due to the competition in the job market, I decided to pursue a degree in business administration at Kenya Methodist University. While in the campus, I got a job with the sacco where I started as an account clerk and was then promoted to an accountant. In the same year I joined the campus, I lost my father after a short illness.

I was able to pursue my degree to the end, and I graduated with a bachelor of business administration accounting and finance option in 2012, but I was not able to continue with my CPA to do the final stage, since some of my other siblings were still in college, and the money was not enough to pay for all of our school fees.

After working with the sacco for five years, I decided to look for a job in another sector where the work was more challenging for my career growth and development. I was lucky that I got a two-year contract job with an NGO funded by international donors as a project finance and administration officer. After my contract was over, I got a one-year contract with a microfinance institution, where I worked as an administrator and I was also involved in business development, capacity building and groups mobilization.

After my one year contract, I joined a local bank as a customer relations officer for two years. I later moved to work with an insurance company up to this date as a financial advisor on savings and investment section. (This was after the bank was acquired by an insurance company.)

I started a business not only to help me have income supplement -- since my employment income is not enough to cater for all the needs, as the cost of life is becoming more and more expensive -- but it is also my passion to do business, and it comes as one of my goals in life that one day I will be a business owner and create employment opportunities to the increasing Kenyan population, and enable someone to earn an income to support their family and leave a dignified life.

The income from my business helps me to pay for my house rent, buy food and clothes, pay my employee and plough some money back to the business to expand it. I also support some of my siblings back at home. I would like to save more to enable me go back to school to complete my CPA final level and enroll for a master's degree, but the income is still not enough, as the business is still young and in need of more funds to expand it due to the increasing population and the demand of goods and services.

During my free time, when I am not in my business or work, I like interacting with an investment group, where we share ideas on different investment opportunities available. I am also a member of a christian fellowship and we meet regularly for prayers.

My Business

When the idea of doing business come into my maid after working in various sectors way back in 2011, I sat down with a pen and paper and listed down all the possible legal businesses that I could operate, starting with the easiest one to start with the minimum capital that I could afford from my savings, the affordable business licenses, and affordable human labour. This is how I settled on a general shop and first food cafe.

After I identified the business, I decided to do a market survey in different areas to identify the best location that I could locate my business. I had several areas that were potential location of my business after inquiring from my friends on those different areas, but I took time to visit these areas and do a feasibility study on the business idea that I was about to carry on in these areas, after analyzing different areas considering different factors such as accessibility, cost of renting the house, security suppliers (or availability of the commodity that I was going to sell) and the target customers I was able to identify.

The area where my business is currently located in Juja in Kiambu County. I started my business with a capital of $650 in September 2012. I settled on this area, as my target customers are mostly the students from Jomo Kenyatta University. The area was and is still developing and I realized that there were few shops in the area, and the ones which were around are located far apart from the student hostel. This area being under development, the permanent homes are very few and the number of houses that are being constructed are mostly hostels, targeting the increasing number of student joining the campus.

Being once a university student, I understood most of their needs and tastes. I decided to run a general shop in a unique style, selling all the household goods that are mostly the basic need. I also incorporated a first food cafe selling tea and sack and any other light food like chips, chapati, fruits and fruit salad. I target their busy schedules, special occasion like graduations, birthday and weekend parties held in hostels, where I offer different services like catering services.

With the increase in number of customers, I now want to expand my business. I seek the help of Zidisha for financial assistance to help me purchase more operating machines. I am currently in need of a fridge for storing beverages, as the majority of these customers need cold drinks most of the time. Other machines that I would like to include in my business are computers; a three-in-one printer, scanner, and photocopier machine; and a bidding machine. This is because most of the student are constantly in need of these services, especially when they are doing their assignments online, others are writing academic research project papers.

The business's average income is $293.75 per month with the fixed cost of house rent of $ 81.25, salary $87.50, water and electricity $12.50, licenses $ 46.67, other miscellaneous expense $12.50. Total expenses is $ 240.42. Net profit is 293.75-240.42=$53.33. My loan request is $1,651.188.

Part of the loan will be used to purchase beverage fridge at a cost of $ 937.50 and $713.668 will be used to purchase additional stock. With the availability of the fridge to store my drinks and additional stock, the sales turnover will increase and my net profit will increase, hence the fund will be available to repay the loan in eight months. I will be very grateful to the Zidisha community if you grant me this loan, and I believe I will grow and be able to become part of the leaders in this community. The people around me will also benefit, as I will be able to increase the number of employees, increase their salaries, and touch many more lives in positive way as I do business as a way of serving the humanity.

Loan Proposal

My business continues to expand. Thank you to Zidisha for your continuous support.

I realize that I need more utensils for my business, such as to add the number of plates and cups and spoons, due to the increasing number of customers. I also need the electric mixer to enable my workers to mix the pancake flour fast and more effectively, instead of using the manual way of the cooking stick, which takes a long time and is tedious and does not give the best result. In addition, I need a electrical blender for blending the fruit to make fresh fruit juice and a big gas cylinder horse pipe and regulator, together with the power back up.

The cost of:
Plates, cups and spoons is KES 12,530 ($137.69)
Blender KES 8,500( $93.41)
Flour mixer KES 6,450 ($70.88)
13kg gas cylinder horse pipe and regulator KES 6,000 ($65.93)
Electric power backup (rechargeable lamp) KES 2,386 ($26.22)

I will highly appreciate if am financed to enable me to purchase these items. These items will enable me to serve more customers and the sales turnover will increase, hence increasing my business profit by 30%.

Show original English  

About Me

Am Kenyan citizen born in Meru County. in a big family of thirteen children being the second last in the family. I went to primary school and secondary school in meru county and I completed my O level in 1999. I later going Meru technical after one year to peruse accounting course since my passion was to become a banker or finance manager of a big company in future. I started at ATC level and I proceeded to do CPA after passing the ATC level.I joined Strathmore University in Nairobi for CPA where my father decided that I stay in Nairobi since my mother had passed on so that my studies cannot be interrupted by the loss of my mother.I was able to do the CPA up to part III section V but due to the competition in the job market I decided to peruse a degree in business administration at Kenya Methodist University while in the campus I got a job with the sacco where I started as an account clerk then promoted to an accountant. in the same year when I had joined campus I lost my father after short illness. I was able to peruse my degree to the end and I graduated with a bachelor of business administration accounting and finance option in 2012, but I was not able to continue with my CPA to do the final stage since some of my other siblings were still in collage and the money was not enough to pay for all of us school fee. After working with the sacco for five years I decided to look for job in other sectors where the work was more challenging for my career growth and development,I was lucky that I got a two year contract job with an NGO funded by international donors as a project finance and administration officer. after my contract was over I got a one year contract with Micro finance institution where I worked as an administrator and I was also involved in business development , capacity building and groups mobilization after my one year contract I joined a local bank as customer relation officer for two years I later move to work with insurance company up to date as a financial advisor on savings and investment section this was after the bank was acquired by an insurance company. I started a business not only to help me have income supplement since my employment income is not enough to cater for all the needs as the cost of life is becoming more and more expensive but it is also my passion to do business and it comes as one of my goals in life that one day I will be a business owner and create employment opportunities to the increasing Kenyan population and enable someone to earn an income to support their family and leave a dignified life.The income from my business help me to pay for my house rent ,buy food and cloth,pay my employee and plough some money back to the business to expand it. I also support some of my siblings back at home, I would like to save more to enable me go back to school to complete my CPA final level and enroll for masters degree but the income is still not enough as the business is still young and in need of more funds to expand it due to the increasing population and the demand of goods and services. During my free time when am not in my business or work I like interacting with investment group where we share ideas on different investment opportunities available, am also a member of christian fellowship and we meet regularly for prayers.

My Business

When the Idea of doing business come into my maid after working in various sector way back in 2011 I sat down with a pen and paper and listed down all the possible legal business that I could operate starting with the most easiest one to start with the minimum capital that I could afford from my savings the affordable business licenses and affordable human labour. and this how I settled on a general shop and first food cafe. After I identifying the business I decided to do a market servy in different areas to identify the best location that I could locate my business I had several areas that were potential location of my business after inquiring from my friends on those different areas but I took time to visit these areas and do a feasibility study on the business idea that I was about to carry on in these areas after analyzing different areas considering different factors such as accessibility, cost of renting the house ,security suppliers or availability of the commodity that I was going to sell and the target customers I was able to Identify the area where my business is currently located in Juja in Kiambu county I started my business with a capital of $ 650 in September 2012. I settle on this areas as my target customer are mostly the student from Jomo kenyatta university .The area was and is still developing and realize that their were few shop in the areas and the one which were around are located far apart from the student hostel. this area being under development the permanent homes are very few and the number of houses that are being constructed are mostly hostels targeting the increasing number of student joining the campus. Being once a university student I understood most of their needs and taste I decided to run a general shop in a unique style selling all the household good that are mostly the basic need I also incorporated a first food cafe selling tea and sack and any other light food like chips ,chapati fruits and fruit salad.targeting their busy schedule,special occasion like graduations,birthday and weekend parties held in hostels where I offer different services like catering services. with the increase in number of customers I now what to expand my business. and i seek the help of Zidisha for financial assistance to help me purchase more operating machines. am currently in need of fridge for storing beverages as majority of this customers need cold drink most of the time. other machines that I would like to include in my business is, computers, three in one printer scanner and photocopier machine and bidding machine. this is because most of the student are constantly in need of this services especially when they are doing their assignment online, others are writing academic research project papers. The business average income is $293.75 per month with the fixed cost of house rent of $ 81.25, salary $87.50,water and electricity $12.5, licenses $ 46.67 other miscellaneous expense $12.50 total expenses is $ 240.42.net profit is 293.75-240.42=$53.33. my loan request is $1,651.188
part of the loan will be used to purchase beverage fridge at a cost of $ 937.5 and $713.668 to purchase additional stock.with the availability of the fridge to store my drinks and additional stock,the sales turnover will increase and my net profit will increase hence the fund will be available to repay the loan in eight month. I will be very great full to Zidisha community if you grant me this loan and I believe I will grow and be able to become part of the leaders in this community and the people around me will also benefit as I will be able to increase the number of employees increase their salary and touch many more life in positive way as I do business as a way of serving the the humanity .

Loan Proposal

Has my business continues to expand. thank you to Zidisha for your continues support,I realize that I need more utensils for my business such as to add the number of plates and cups and spoons due to the increasing number of customers,i also need the electric mixer to enable my workers to mix the pancake flour fast and more effectively instead of using the manual way of the cooking stick which take long time and is tidies and does not give the best result. in addition i need a electrical blender for blending the fruit to make fresh fruit juice and a big gas cylinder horse pipe and regulator together with the power back up. the cost of plate,cup and spoons is kes12,530 ($137.69). Blender kes 8,500( $93.41) Flour Mixer kes 6,450 ($70.88).13kg Gas Cylinder horse pipe and Regulator kes 6,000($65.93) Electric power back up( rechargeable lamp) KES 2,386 ($26.22). I will highly appreciate if am financed to enable me purchase this items, this items will enable me to serve more customers and the sales turn over will increase hence increasing my business profit by 30%.

Feedback

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Loan Info

Project Type

Classic Loan

Disbursed amount

$372.00

Date disbursed

Jul 27, 2015

Repayment status

On Time

Projected term

7 months

Lenders

C

Christian

Saarbruecken, Germany

sworthington

San Francisco, United States

investor

Candiac, Canada

S

SovTempest

Toronto, Canada

S

Spassmacher

46244 Bottrop, Germany

SKWAW

SHANTY BAY, ONTARIO, Canada

cyrus0302

San Francisco, United States

A

andyfletcher

I want my "My loans" page back, Qatar

DeanDropshot

Oslo, Norway

F

Fiodal

Helsinki, Finland

Kjartan

Oslo, Norway

I

Interfree

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

T

traderjohn

Baltimore, United States

M

markj

Camberwell, Australia

J

Jacquinta

London, United Kingdom

Zidisha

Sterling, United States

G

guenter

Bremen, Germany

T

ToddK

Indianapolis, IN, USA, United States

S

Steveandson

Arlington, United States

S

simranandtyler

London, Ontario, Canada

DaveinPerth

Perth, Australia

K

kingmark1

Calgary, Canada

BJ

Brandon Joz

North Carolina, United States

E

eljama

Chapel Hill, United States

J

jgrauel

Zurich, Switzerland

RochelleSpencer

New York, United States

Aggul

London, United Kingdom

A

Angela

Heide, Germany

Jeff

Portland OR, United States

M

mrhanky1

melbourne, Australia

jk1234

Pinellas Park, United States

N

NancyG

Victoria, Canada

RockinRobin

Centennial CO, United States

J

jjonas

berlin, Germany

EmilAsker

Lomma, Sweden

O

OneSummer

Muenster/Westphalia, Germany

S

SeanWolfPack

Raleigh, United States

J

JoycaLeplae

Gent, Belgium

Boysenfam

Boulder, United States

Myrar

Aarau, Switzerland

Susansfund

Colorado Springs, United States

S

samuk

Nottingham, United Kingdom

ads68

Melbourne, Australia

Christopher

Copenhagen, Denmark

U

UmSaeed

Southfield, United States

swendl

Iowa, United States

A

Aaron

Zurich, Switzerland

E

erogers

Vancouver, Canada

D

DaveH

Folsom, United States

8

8chrono8

London, United Kingdom

fairspirit

Utrecht, Netherlands

Muslim

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

U

UTLonghorn

Lincoln, United States

D

dpvidal

Eindhoven, Netherlands

isabelv

Barcelona, Spain, Sweden

C

cocokathy

Brisbane, Australia

Zal0m0n

Atlantis!!!! x), Mauritania

gseletko

South Perth, Australia

V

VegaMansk

Woerden, Netherlands

dmirpuri

Bangkok, Thailand

Matthieu

Switzerland, France

xtrahardware

Cazenovia, United States

HealthcareProvider

Baltimore, United States

E

E

Marin county, United States

D

Dianatalk

Netherlands

M

martyb

United States

A

axienjii

Amsterdam, United Kingdom

Matching Fund

Sterling, United States

P

payette

Ottawa, Canada

D

Dan

United States

Paul Buchheit

Mountain View, United States

M

Michi

Switzerland

M

merk85

United States

T

tiojoca

Portugal

K

Kber9156

North Parramatta, Australia

mepster

San Francisco, Ca, United States

johnhudson

Washington, DC, United States

B

Brent

United States

P

PeterDG

United Kingdom

B

bscent

Hong Kong

Mun

Orlando, FL, United States

M

Microfinance

United States

I

idris

United States

S

sarahb

United States

N

nshekher

United States

S

stryker75

United States

H

hayek

Stuttgart, Germany

J

JF2014

United States

S

StefanB

Stockholm, Sweden

Kyle Hoback

Omaha, United States

E

Ejackson

United States

KM

Kirsty M

United Kingdom

VS

Vajean Stan

Mangalia, Czech Republic

RM

Robbie McCullagh

Waverton, Australia

Family Mueller

Petershagen, Germany

AA

Adam Atlas

Montreal, QC, Canada, Canada

M

Morange

Republic of Korea

MW

Matt Willis

United States

Kevin

San Francisco, United States

TS

Ted Suzman

United States

JD

Jeff DePree

United States

AE

Ashley Eyre

United States

M

mohamed

South Africa

Marcus M

San Antonio, Texas, United States

WL

Wil Lazo

United States

Martin Nielsen

Aarhus, Denmark

A

Andrei

United Kingdom

JR

Jeffrey Rosen

United States

McKenzie Dodge

Oregon, United States

V

Varun

New Zealand

EF

Eddie Flores

NYC, United States

Ask Lydiah a question about this project, share news and photos of your own, or send a simple note of thanks or inspiration.

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